This weekend fall practices are scheduled to start for the men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country teams.

This year the men’s soccer team is attempting to advance to the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the fourth time in five years. Fontbonne posted a 11-9-1 record last year and won the SLIAC Post-Season Tournament before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The team returns 12 players from last year’s team including all-conference performers Jess Jobe and Don Tebeau. This year’s team will be improved by incoming freshmen Max Fehl, Phillip Newman and Daniel Hoffman as well as transfer Mike Utley. The men’s soccer team opens their season on Friday, August 31 against Southeastern University in Clearwater, Florida.

The women’s soccer team is attempting this year to improve on their fifth place finish in conference last year. The team returns their leading goal scorer from a year ago Shannon Behnen, who selected to the second team all-conference. The team also returns midfielders senior Nikki Respi and sophomore Kristin Ferguson, who was also second team all-conference. The defense will be anchored by senior Megan Hogan and junior Mandi Newsome, who was selected to the honorable mention all-conference tean a year ago. The women’s soccer team opens their season Friday, August 31 against Southeastern University in Clearwater, Florida.

The women’s volleyball team hopes to get back to the top of the conference with the help of new coach Lauren Good. Good begins her first year as the Griffins’ head coach with 7 players returning from last year’s team. The team returns their top hitter from last year junior Ellen Toben and defensive specialist Megan Simon. The Griffins will also get a boost by getting senior setter Rachel Schwoeppe back from injury. Rachel suffered a knee injury early last year and didn’t play the remainder of the season. The team is hoping to get immediate contributions from freshmen Shelby Leistler and Kayla Voege. The women’s volleyball team opens the season over Labor Day weekend in the Gilbert Memorial Labor Day Weekend Tournament at the University of Dallas-Texas.

The men’s and women’s cross country programs enter their second year with high expectations. Head coach Dave Almany has added several quality recruits in each of the men’s and women’s programs. The men’s and women’s cross country programs compete in their first meet on Saturday, September 1 at Washington University.